Machine for scouring and polishing tin cans



2 Sheets-Sheet 1. I. G. CASS.

Patented June 12,1883.

INVENTUH- N. PETERS. Mia-lithograph. Wahinghn. OJ;

(No Model.)

MACHINE FOR SGOUBING AND POLISHING TIN CANS. No. 279,222.

WITNESSES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

7 v P. G. CASS, MACHINE FOR SCOU-RING AND POLISHING TIN CANS.

PatentedJune 12,1883.

5/0 7 t u 1 f0 X WITNEEEEE f4 gENTUFk UN TED STATES PATENT I OFFICE,

FREDRICK o. CASS, F GAMBRIDGEPORT, MASSACHUSETTS.

MACHINE FOR SCOURING AND POLISHING TIN CANS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 279,222, dated June 12,1883.

Application filed January 2, 1883.

To 00% whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDRICK G. CASS, a citizen of the United States,residing'at Gambridgeport, in the county of Middlesex and State ofMassachusetts, have invented a Machine for Scouring and Polishing TinPacking Cans or Boxes, of which the following is a full, clear, andexact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,making part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a perspectiveview of my machine for securing and polishing tin cans.

"Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section of the same, taken in a planepassing through the brushes. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectiontaken in a plane passing between the sets of brushes on each side.

The rectangular tin cans or boxes in which fancy and other crackers orbiscuits are packed, after having been emptied and before being againused, require to be thoroughly washed and scrubbed to remove from theirexterior surfaces dirt, old labels, &c. This scrubbing or scouringprocess has heretofore always been performed by hand with soap and waterand an ordinary scrubbing-brush, and is a slow and tedious operation.

My invention has for its object to enable me to perform this scouringand cleansing operation much more rapidly and perfectly than heretofore,and thus effect a great saving in time and labor and it consists in thedetails of construction of an organized machine,.hereinafter fullydescribed, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the said drawings, A represents the bed or table of the machine,which is supported upon legs or otherwise at a convenient height fromthe floor. From the center of the table A rises a frame, B, at thebottom of each side of which is a groove, b, within which and a groove,0, in a strip, d, placed opposite thereto at the outer edge of thetable, fit tenons or projections at the opposite edges of a horizontalslide, 0, which is connected by a piece, e, Fig. 3, with a slide, D,arranged at right angles thereto and adapted to move therewith, itsupper and lower edges fitting into grooves f g at the top and bottom ofthe frame B.

To each of the lower slides, C, is pivoted, at 7:, one end of a rod, 17,the opposite end of (No model.)

by a belt (not shown) passing over a pulley,

m, the two pairs of slides O D O D are alternately reciprocated, for apurpose to be hereinafter described.

To each slide 0 are secured two brushes, H H, having theirworkingsurfaces in a horizontal plane, and to each of the contiguousslides D are secured two brushes, I I, having their working-surfaces ina vertical plane, the two brushes H I of a set touching each other at10, their workingsurfaces forming a right angle at this point.

Each pair or set of brushes is provided with a rest, K, having its endssecured at 5 6 to the table and frame B, and against this rest the tincan is firmly held by the operator while it is being acted upon by thereciprocating brushes H I, a stationary rest or support for the canwhile being scrubbed being essential to the proper operation of themachine, as otherwise it would be impossible for the operator to holdthe can steadily and prevent it from being carried. from side to sidewith the brushes.

In the operation of scrubbing or scouring, a rectangular tin can, L,Fig. 1, having been first Soaked in hot water and soap-suds, is taken bythe operator and held firmly against one of the rests K and also againstthe two rapidly-reciproeating brushes H I belonging thereto, which thusact simultaneously u-pon twocontiguous sides of the can and rapidlyscour and cleanse the same',.removing all dirt and impurities, andleaving a clean, bright, and polished surface, Soapand water or othercleansing liquid or substance being applied to the brushes while inoperation, if found necessary. After these two sides of the can havebeen secured the can is turned to bring two more surfaces in contactwith the brushes, this op eration being repeated until the entireexterior surface of the can has been scoured, cleansed, and polished, asrequired, to again render it fit for use, an immense saving in time andlaher being thus effected, as the operation of scouring and polishingthe can is performed much quicker and better than heretofore.

The different sets of brushes are preferably made of different degreesof fineness, to adapt them for use'on cans which are more or less dirty,an old can which is very dirty requiring a stiffer and coarser brushthan one which is comparatively new and clean, and eachbrush ispreferably made with a slightly-convex workingsurface, in order that itmay come into contact with all parts of the surface of the side of acan, which often becomes slightly hollow from long use.

Each brush should be about twice the length of the largest can, in orderthat the entire surface of the can may be at all times in contact withthe brush without regard to the position of the latter with respect tothe rest K.

I prefer to arrange two brushes, H l, at right angles to each other, asshown, to work 011 two sides of a can simultaneously; but a single brushadapted to operate on one side only at a time may be used, if desired.

Any desired number of brushes or sets of brushes may be attached to asingle slide, a rest K being provided for each brush or set of brushesto support and steady the can and keep it in its proper position whilebeing scoured and polished.

Instead of making the machine double to admit of its being used on eachside, as shown, it may be made single or with a brush or brushes on oneside only, if preferred.

The table or bench A is placed at such a height from the floor as tomake it convenient for the workman to bear his weight on the can,thereby rendering the operation more effective.

I do not wish to confine myself to the precise details of constructionhere shown, as

these may be varied without departing from the spirit of my invention.For instance, the rest or support for thecan, instead of beingconstructed and arranged with respect to the brushes as shown, may be soconstructed and arranged as to allow the tin can to be placed upon it,and the reciprocating brush or brushes be adapted to act upon the upperside or surface of the can and be pressed down thereon by hand or anysuitable mechanical device, such construction being obviously but a meremodification of my invention.

Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. In a machine for scouring and polishing tin cans, boxes, and othersimilar articles, the table A, provided with the eccentrics G- and rodst, in combination with the rest K, projecting beyond the faces of therubbers or scourers, a reciprocating brush or brushes, and suitablemechanism for operating the same.

2. In a machine for securing and polishing tin cans and other similararticles, the reciprocating slides O D, arranged at right angles to eachother, in combination with the brushes H I and suitable mechanism forreciprocating the same, as set forth.

\Vitness my hand this 27th day of December, A. D. 1882.

FREDRICK c. CASS.

\Vitnesses:

P. E. TESCHEMAOHER \V. J. CAMBRIDGE.

